Contributed by Amy Williams
Each summer, The Jefferson Swim League (JSL), oversees 17 regional swim teams that compete in six weeks of competition, which are capped-off with a championship meet, the last week of July. For the Lake Monticello Swim Team (LMST) Sharks, each season begins when practices resume on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, in the Lake Monticello Community Pool. This year, unseasonably cool temperatures delayed the start of the season by two days, but as temperatures rose, so did the enthusiasm for the 2025 season.
With two weeks of practice under their belts, the LMST swimmers headed to the Glenmore Country Club (GCC) for their first meet of the season. Traditionally, this first dual meet is unscored, and pairs a team from the JSL Division I (GCC) against a team from Division II (LMST). It offers an opportunity for new swimmers to learn how a meet operates, and returning swimmers a chance to refresh their skills, without worrying about their scores.
LMST had a great showing by the youngest swimmers. New Shark, Kingston Arencibia (5), dominated both his 25 yard freestyle (25.13) and 25 yard backstroke (27.47), while returning swimmers Michael Koerper (8) bested the 25 yard freestyle (19.65) and Henley Belew (7) led her 25 yard backstroke (27.97) and 25 yard butterfly (28.03). The butterfly stroke is introduced once swimmers move to the 8 and under age category, so this was Henley’s first year swimming butterfly for the Sharks.
This meet included individual medley (IM) races for swimmers over age 9. This race has swimmers complete a 25 yard butterfly, 25 yard backstroke, 25 yard breaststroke, and finish with a 25 yard freestyle. Leading their IMs were: Norbu Barnett (10) in 1:22.53, a remarkable seven seconds ahead of the second place finisher; Annelise Campbell (12) in 1:32.27; and Aaron Fairbanks (16) in 1:14.59.
Other notable 50 yard freestyle finishes were had by first place winners Henry Ward (9) in 48.22, Brick Sumner (13) in 33.71, and Aaron Fairbanks (16) in 28.25.
Sharks who led the 50 yard butterfly were Norbu Barnett (35.91), Lily Dugan (12) in 44.22, and Ariella Miller (13) in 30.41.
Sophie Pace (17) raced a 50 yard backstroke in 39.41, as an exhibition race, and Marshall Yellets (12) rounded out the individual wins with his 55.13 finish in the 50 yard breaststroke.
This meet also included freestyle relays in which a four member team races, with each member finishing one leg of the relay. For swimmers under age eight, each leg is 25 yards, while older swimmers each complete 50 yards. LMST bested GCC in the Mixed 6 and under, 100 yard relay, with Trace Brown (6), Arrow Harrington (6), Indigo Geyer (6), and Kingston Arencibia finishing in 2:17.50. 8 and under girls, Abigail Gehling (7), Annalina Barresi (7), Clara Gehling (7), and Henley Belew led in 1:53.72. boys 9 and under, with Henry Ward, Kaleo Heath (9), Cole Gehling (10), and Norbu Barnett, won in 2:51.22, and the final win of the night went to 13-14 girls, Dorothy Dillon (13), Georgia Comer (13), JoJo Comer (13), and Elliot Gehling (13) who finished in 2:42.09.
The LMST coaches expressed great pride in the efforts put in by both new and returning swimmers. They drew particular attention to “Swimmers of the Week” Trace Brown, one of the newest swimmers this season, for his commitment, kindness, and hard work and Raelynn Worley, another new swimmer, who has been eager to learn, and has a positive attitude that they describe as “contagious.” Well done Sharks.
Wednesday, June 18th, the Charlottesville City Swordfish will host the Lake Monticello Sharks for the first scored meet of the 2025 season.
